Joe Panik hitting seventh for SF Giants, plus Angel Pagan update

Angel Pagan is listed on the lineup sheet as a reserve, so the Giants have decided not to place him on the disabled list for now.

A lot of fans have asked me why the Giants don’t just bite the bullet and DL the leadoff hitter so they don’t play short-handed. The team doesn’t look at it that way. It would rather not lose such an important player for two weeks when his injury might cost him a week. Those six or seven games with Pagan could be vital.

San Francisco Giants v Arizona Diamondbacks

Joe Panik watches from the dugout during during his first Major League start. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

At the same time, the Giants do not have any outfielders burning it up at Triple-A ready to step in.

As expected, Michael Morse is out of the lineup after his back tightened in Saturday night’s win. Joe Panik gets his first big-league start.